Toy road system



Feb. 25,-1947. a E. FIELDS 2,416,473

TOY ROAD SYSTEM Original Filed Jan 16, 1940 g mvuisgm I instance a blue car, disappear Patented Feb. 25, 1947 TOY ROAD SYSTEM Ernest Fields, New York, N. Y. Substituted-for abandoned application Serial No.

314,087, January 16, 194.0.

This application October 24, 1945, Serial No. 624,158

. 9 Claims. (Cl. '104-253) invention relates to improvements in toy i-road systems, particularly in toy road systems in 'wihichtwo or more vehicles run on the road sysvtem and are alternately arrested and released.

One object of my invention is, a toy road system having a single track on which several vehicles follow each .other. One is arrested by a1- rest'ing means and released again by the following vehicle which in turn is arrested. Another object of my invention is a continuous .single track system on which two vehicles run in the same direction and to provide means by which the first vehicle is arrested at a certain point of the track and then released by the following vehicle which in turn is arrested by the same arresting means.

Another object of my invention is to provide vehicles having a different appearance. This in creases the play value of my toy road system since it is very amusing to observe how the vehicle running on the track changes its appear,-

ance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a which encloses and conceals the control mechanism for the arresting and releasing of the vehicles. This, particularly in combination with using vehicles having a different appearance,

gives a very surprising effect. The person playing sees a vehicle of a certain shape and typ for and a red car emerge. Since both vehicles are never simultaneouslyvisible the result has an air of mystery.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing an emodiment of a toy road system according to my invention is shown. v

,Fig. 1 is a plan view of the road system according to my invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the control device for arresting and. releasing the two vehicles running upon the road system along line *2-2 of Fig. 1; one car is shown in its arrested position and the second in a position where it just begins to operate the releasing mechanism of the control device.

Fig. 3 shows the same longitudinal section as Fig. 2 but one car is shown after its release and 'the other is approaching the arresting means of the "control device after it has passed and operated the releasing means, and

Fig.4 is a cross-sectionalong line 4- 4 of Fig.

I is a continuous single track road system. It may have the illustrated shape or any other suitable shape. The track consists of a lane and two curbs" 3 to keep vehicles circulating on ing mechanism of any conventional type which may be wound up by winding wind up I. The word vehicle is used here in its broadest sense. It shall include figures of animals," dolls, etc., which are propelled by a driving mechanism. The road system includes one or more control devices. In the drawing one control device is shown. It is arranged within a cover 8 which has an entrance 9 and an exit I0. The cover serves partly to carry the control mechanism and partly to conceal it. Cover 8 may have the outer shape of a garage, house, repair shop, paint shop, or anything similar adapted to the peculiar shape and kind of the vehicles runnin on the track.

The control mechanism comprises a trigger II consisting of sheet metal or any other suitable cover 8 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Trigger II is curved toward its free end andits curved section I3 ends in a flange I4. Due to its own weight trigger II tends to swing downward around .axle I2. It is limited in its downward movement by a catch I5 provided on the side walls or the front wall I6 of cover 8. The swinging movement of trigger II in the upward direction is limited by projection I! provided on front wall I6. [Trigger II is further provided with anose I8'which may consist of a tongue punched out of the trigger material but it is also possible totprovide a separate nose attached to trigger I I.

The control device cooperates with .cars5 and 6 and is operated by them. Each car has a rounded front section I9 and a nose or catch 20. This nose or catch may consist of a recess or extension in the outer body line of the car or may be formed by the figure of a dummy driver.

The size and arrangement of .cars '5 and 6, .of catch or nose 20 and of trigger II with its new "or .catch I8 and its curved'front section .13 are v to my invention is as follows.

the same direction as car 5.

Vention.

3 chosen in such a manner that in the lowered position of trigger H in which its flange l4 rests on nose l5 catch l8 will engage nose of a car and curved section l3 will lie in the path of a car entering entrance -9.

Fig. 2 shows a position of the various elements of the toy in which car 6 is arrested by the engagement of noses l8 and 20 and car 5 has just entered cover 8.- Its front section 19 is in contact with curved trigger section l3 but has not yet lifted it. Fig. 3 shows a position in which car 5 has proceeded far enough to lift trigger ll sufficiently to disengage noses l8 and 20. Car 6 has begun to proceed on its path.

The operation of a toy road system according One car, for instance car 6, is wound up and set on the track in the direction indicated by the arrows. The car then will run on the track and enter cover 8.

.Trigger II is in a position shown in Fig. 2. Front section i9 of the car will lift trigger H and car -6 will pass under the lifted trigger. If the car has reached about the middle of cover 8 it will no longer support the trigger. The triggerwill swing downward by its own weight and nose 20 will strike against catch l8. Consequently, .car '6 will be arrested in the position shown in Fig. 2. Then car 5 is wound up and set on the track in As soon as car 5 enters cover 8 its front section l9 will lift-trigger H from the position shown in Fig. 2 into the position shown in Fig. 3. Consequently, car 6 will be released. Car 5 in turn will be arrested since trigger II will swing downwardagain as soon as the highest part of car 5. has passed under curved ,1 section 13 of trigger H and no longer supports As soon as car 6 has completed its Car 5 is released trigger I I. run the same cycle is repeated. and car 6 is arrested.

I accomplish by such a contro1 system according to my invention the alternate running of two 7 cars on' a single track system. Since cover 8 conceals the operation of the control device and l the alternation of the cars is completed in a very short time a surprising play effect is secured. The play is particularly surprising if. the two cars have a different appearance. Then one sees one candisappear in .a repair shop or whatever the outer shape of cover 8 might be and'another car will appear. V p It is obvious from the preceding specification thatmy invention is not limited to the peculiar shape of the vehicles shown or of they trigger mechanisma It is essential only that trigger and vehicles are shaped and'arranged in such a manner that the trigger will arrest a carin a certain position and that. an incoming car will remove the trigger from'its arresting position but permit the trigger to return into its arresting pojects into the path of a vehicle running on said 2. A toy road system comprising a single track,

at least two vehicles adapted to run in the same 7 direction on said track, and each provided with 15 a driving mechanism, a trigger pivotally suspended above said single track, a shoulder for limiting a, downward movement of said trigger,

a catch provided on said trigger, said catch projecting in a certain position of said trigger into the path of a vehicle running on said track thus arresting a vehicle reaching said catch, said trigger being arranged to project in its arresting position into the path of a vehicle running on said track and to be removed temporarily from its arresting position into another position while a vehicle arrested by said trigger catch.

3. A toy road system comprising a single track, I

position of said trigger into the path of a vehiclerunning on said track at a point of said track before said catch seen in the running direction of said vehicles,'said trigger being further arranged to be lifted outof its lowered position by a vehicle passing under said rounded ofi trigger section thus releasing a vehicle arrested by said trigger catch.

' 4. A toy road system comprising a continuous single track, two vehicles having a ,diiferent appearance adapted to run in the same direction on V 'said track, and each provided with a driving mechanism, a trigger pivotally suspended above said single track, a shoulder for limiting,a down? ward movement of said trigger, a catch provided on said trigger projecting in the lowered position of said trigger into the path of a vehicle running on'said track thus arresting a vehicle reaching said catch, 7 said trigger including a rounded off section projecting in the lowered position of said trigger into the path of a vehicle sition before the car reaches a certain position on 0 running on S track at a Point Of liaidv tr k the track. My invention also is not limited to the peculiar arrangement of the trigger itself and its suspension but various changes may be single track, atleast two vehicles having, a dif-; ferent appearance adapted to run in the same direction on said track, and each provided-with a driving mechanism, .a trigger provided with a catch, said trigger beingiar'ranged toassume either a I -.;an arresting position in which said catch ;pro-;: ".775 of a vehicle runni 011 3111??? fihu ag si es before said catch seen in the running direction 'of said vehicles, said trigger being further arranged to be lifted out of its lowered position by .a vehicle passing under said roundedoff trigger .65 section thus releasinga vehicle arrested by said trigger catch. 7 V V r 5. Atoy road system comprising a single track, at least two vehicles adapted to run in the same direction on said track, andjeach provided with a driving mechanism, a trigger pivotally suspended above said single track, a shoulder for limiting a downward movement of said" trigger, a catch provided on said trigger pr ojecting in the; lowered position of said trigger into the path 7 vehicle is passing said trigger thus releasing .a

a vehicle reaching said catch, said trigger including a rounded off section projecting in the lowered position of said trigger into the path of a vehicle running on said track at a point of said track before said catch seen in the running direction of said vehicles, said trigger being further arranged to be lifted out of its lowered position by a vehicle passing under said rounded off trigger section thus releasing a vehicle arrested by said trigger catch, and a tunnel-shaped cover having an entrance and an exit for said vehicles running on said track for enclosing and concealing said trigger mechanism.

6. A to-y road system comprising a single track, at least two vehicles adapted to run in the same direction on said track,.and each provided with a driving mechanism, a tunnel-shaped cover over part of said single track, a trigger pivotally suspended within said cover above said track, a shoulder for limiting a downward movement of said trigger provided on said cover, a catch provided on said trigger projecting in a lowered position of said trigger into the path of a vehicle running on said track thus arresting a vehicle reaching said catch, said trigger including a rounded ofi section projecting in the lowered position of said trigger into the path of a vehicle running on said track at a point of said track located before said trigger catch seen in the running direction of said vehicles, said trigger being arranged to be lifted out of its lowered position by a vehicle passing under said rounded off trigger section, thus releasing a vehicle arrested by said trigger catch.

7. A toy road system comprising a continuous 1,

single track, two vehicles having a different appearance adapted to run in the same direction on said track, and each provided with a driving mechanism, a tunnel-shaped cover over part of said single track, a trigger pivotally suspended Within said cover above said track, a shoulder for limiting a downward movement of said trigger provided on said cover, a catch provided on said trigger projecting in a lowered position of said catch seen inthe running direction of said vehicles, said trigger being arranged to be lifted out of its lowered position by a vehicle passing under said rounded oii trigger section,,thus releasing a vehicle arrested by said trigger catch.

8. A toy road system comprising a single track, at least two cars adapted to run in the same direction on said track, and each provided with a driving mechanism, a tunnel-shaped cover over part of said single track, a trigger pivotally suspended within said cover above said track, a shoulder for limiting the downward movement of said trigger provided within said cover, a catch provided on said trigger projecting in a lowered position of said trigger into the path of a car running on said track thus arresting a car reaching said catch, said trigger including a rounded off section projecting in the lowered position of said trigger into the path of a car running on said track at a point of said track located before said trigger catch seen in the running direction of said vehicles, said trigger being arranged to be lifted out of its arresting position while a car is passing under said rounded off trigger section thus releasing a car arrested by said trigger catch.

9. A toy road system according to claim 8,ln which each of said cars is provided with a recess adapted to be engaged by said trigger catch and with a frontsection adapted to cooperate with said rounded ofi trigger section.

ERNEST FIELDS. 

